OVERVIEW:
There are many types of cancer that afflict Americans these days. Here are the most common kinds: 
(1) Lung
(2) Colon & Rectal
(3) Breast (female & male)
(4) Pancreatic
(5) Prostate
(6) Leukemia
(7) Lymphoma
(8) Bladder
(9) Kidney/Renal Cell
(10) Melanoma
(11) Endometrial
(12) Skin
(13) Thyroid
(14) Other cancers: brain, cervical, childhood, liver, ovarian, pancreatic, stomach, testicular, uterine

Learn more:
National Institute for Cancer (NCI): Cancer Types and Statistics
cancer.gov

HOW TO GET INSURANCE:

Life insurance: Many typical life insurance companies will not offer coverage for cancer patients—especially if you are undergoing treatment. If you apply for a policy that does require medical information, ensure that all your health records are up to date as they will be used to determine your premium. Some firms, though, provide guaranteed coverage and allow you to apply for a policy without a medical exam or health questions. A no-hassle policy may be your best bet.

Health insurance: If you have or have had cancer and already have health insurance, you should hold onto your coverage. If you let your coverage lapse and then need to seek a new medical policy, you may find it difficult to get coverage. Many health insurance companies will consider your cancer a pre-existing condition and thus not pay any cancer-related claims for a period as long as a year. Also, insurance companies will consider you a high-risk patient and either charge you very high premiums or not offer you coverage at all. If you already have health insurance coverage, you may want to seek supplemental coverage—including cancer insurance—to offset your treatment costs.


Learn more:
American Cancer Society: Health Insurance
cancer.org

PATIENT RESOURCES:
Insurance options

• Cover medical and family expenses:
• Co-pays, deductibles, medicines, equipment
• Special costs related to care: food, care
• Replace lost income
• Mortgage, rent, cost of living essentials

Financial planning
Although no one wants to think about the worst, it’s important to be proactive about how you and your family will financially survive this traumatic time. Even with a reliable health insurance policy, cancer patients can incur tens of thousands of dollars in treatment expenses. Cost of living—such as mortgage or rent, utilities, and groceries—can also be hard to make each month if the cancer patient can no longer work. Here are steps to help your planning:

1. Talk to your insurance company to determine what your health plan covers to anticipate potential costs.
2. Find a financial planner who can help you plan how you will cover costs, manage your money, and provide for your family. Look into planners experienced with health care situations and ask around for recommendations.
3. Once you’ve found a qualified financial planner, set an appointment and ask what papers to bring to your meeting. Then, see if this professional is a good fit for your needs.

 
Learn more:
American Cancer Society: Finding a Financial Planner 
cancer.org

Nutrition, exercise, and well-being
Feeding your body plenty of nutrients and protein is essential during this time. With chemotherapy, radiation, and other treatments, you are at risk for malnutrition and illness. Talk to your treatment provider about what foods and supplements you should be taking, and if your plan covers nutritional counseling, make an appointment with a nutritionist to discuss tailoring a diet just for you. Likewise, discuss your need for exercise with your doctor. Whether your treatments cause you to gain or lose weight, staying active is important to maintaining good health. Also, finding a local support group that lets you connect with other cancer patients can help relieve some stress.

Another factor to consider as you undergo treatment are the physical and emotional side effects you—or even your loved ones—might experience. Read the National Cancer Institute page about coping with cancer: cancer.gov

Cancer patient support and community websites
The National Cancer Institute website offers lots of helpful information for those seeking support organizations and general support: cancer.gov

People Living With Cancer is a useful site approved by the American Society of Clinical Oncology: plwc.org

Find more valuable information on these cancer-related pages:
NCI: Cancer Dictionary
cancer.gov
NCI: Cancer Topics
cancer.gov
The Guide to Internet Resources for Cancer
cancerindex.org
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
komen.org
Lance Armstrong Foundation
livestrong.org
John Wayne Cancer Foundation
jwcf.org
The Carcinoid Cancer Foundation
carcinoid.org